Club Notes.. - 11/06/2019

Feile festival of Hurling...

It Began Friday evening with a referee's whistle and ended Sunday afternoon with another referee's whistle, a full weekend of hurling, meeting new teams, making new friends and taking away memories for life, this was the story of a brilliant Feile na nGael held in Cork and Kerry last weekend.

Bride Rovers Feile odyssey began Friday evening with two matches in the Mallow GAA complex. Here the home team, ourselves and the visitors Loughiel Shamrocks (Antrim) and Offaly's Kilcormac/Killoughy played out four great games on two pitches. The Bride Rovers lads first match was against a crack Kilcormac-Killoughy side who showed that Offaly hurling will rise again soon. They were superb and at the end of our first match the scoreboard reported Kilcormac-Killoughy 3-06 Bride Rovers 0-04. While we were playing our guests from Antrim played Mallow and won by a single point. With little time to dwell on the first Feile experience it was back out onto the pitch for the second match against Mallow. We went ahead in the second half but Mallow drew level near the end. A draw seemed likely after but Mallow pounced with the final stroke of the ball to record the winning score, Mallow 2-04 Bride Rovers 1-04. Meanwhile the Shamrocks were beaten by the Offaly side. Later on Friday evening  our guests for the weekend, the fabled Loughiel Shamrocks of Antrim arrived to Pairc na Bride to meet their new families for the weekend. We hosted the team and four mentors. With a camogie team staying in Cork city a huge number of parents, grandparents and Club members had come south for the weekend from Antrim. The teams left home at 7 am on Friday morning and the supporters followed on later.

Saturday dawned bright and fresh for day two of the Feile adventure. With a 10am throw-in a huge crowd descended on a magnificently presented Pairc na Bride to see Bride Rovers host Loughiel Shamrocks in their final group game. It was a ding dong game of hurling right throughout a very close contest.  Bride Rovers lost out by a single score in what was a great advertisement for the game in front of both young and old from both clubs Bride Rover; 1-03 Loughiel Shamrocks 2-03, 

Volunteers from the club served teas, coffees, sandwiches and confectioneries to all as the final permutations were calculated.  The overall organisation of the Feile was top class and shortly after our game ended it was announced that Shamrocks and Kilcormac/Killoughy were the two teams going forward in the Division 2 Cup Competition whilst ourselves and Mallow were to play in the Shield.

Both teams took part in a crossbar challenge before having lunch and heading to St Finbarrs GAA Club in Togher in the afternoon. We had to take on Slaugthneil of Derry in our  shield quarter final.  In what was a nail biting affair Bride Rovers battled through to progress to Sunday's semi final by the narrowest of margins, Bride Rovers 0:05 Slaughtneil 0:04. The tension  near the end of this game was like the closing minutes of an All Ireland Final! we were ahead by 5 points to 3 with seconds to go. The Derry side were awarded a close in free. They went for a winning goal but our defence kept it out and the sliotar flew over the bar. As is traditional in Feile Bride Rovers remained to cheer on our guests Loughiel Shamrocks in their quarter final as they had cheered Bride Rovers on in the previous quarter final. The Shamrocks looked completely out of it as they trailed Camross of Laois by  1 0 to 0 7 with two minutes remaining. They manufactured a goal and with virtually the last puck of the game, equalised from a free. Two periods of 5 minutes each were then played with the Antrim lads holding out for a great win. The Rovers players and mentors roared the Shamrocks to victory. These two great wins meant the two teams were still in it on Sunday which was just brilliant. Both teams then returned to Rathcormac for a meal and to watch the Cork v Waterford game on the Big Screen.  After Cork's great win we had a  fun table quiz before a well earned rest Sunday's Feile adventure began with Canon Michael Leamy welcoming both teams and supporters to Bartlemy Mass and then after that the mighty John Arnold sent both teams on their way with rousing versions of both 'Bride Rovers Abu' and 'The Green Glens of Antrim'.  Before leaving Bartlemy gifts were exchanged as tokens of appreciation.

Sundays games were based in Bishopstown GAA and our lads faced Ballygalget from Down in their semi final. It was a battling affair played in a torrential downpour. The rain made it very hard going but Bride Rovers fought their way through to the shield final on a scoreline Bride Rovers 1-04 Ballygalget 0-00. Next Shamrocks took on Valley Rovers in the Division 2 Cup semi final. Despite a brave effort the Innishannon aside proved too strong for our Antrim.

And so onto the division 2 shield final played against a well balanced Inniscarra side who'd beaten Youghal in their semi final. Our lads could never get going- they were just exhausted after all the tight games. Inniscarra were just too good for us but in fairness our lads battled until the end. So the 2019 Feile adventure ended for Bride Rovers, final score Inniscarra 2-05 Bride Rovers 0-01. In the Division 2 Cup Final Valley Rovers who'd beaten our Shamrocks went under to the Kilcormac/Killoughey lads.

Huge thanks must go all the club, organizers, sponsors and supporters who made this weekend possible. A special word of thanks to the parents of our club who hosted the Antrim lads in their homes. For Nevan, Mark, Ger, Lisa , Ken etc it was a busy, busy few weeks -well done to ye all on great work. Special thanks to Geraldine Dorgan for all the photographs. Bride Rovers Feile panel, F O'Flynn, L Harrington, T O'Riordan, C O'Dowd, C O'Sullivan, L Roche, B Knox, J Keating, G Gubbins, C O'Sullivan, C Barry, K Ryan, K Cotter, R O'Callaghan, A Hynes, C Hogan, J Collins, E O'Connor, R O'Riordan, O Kielty, D Kielty, C O'Sullivan, D Cashman. The players received lovely commemorative Medals for reaching the Division 2 Shield Final.

 ‘Tis alone my concern if the grandest surprise
Would be shining at me out of somebody’s eyes
‘Tis my private affair what my feelings would be
While the green glens of Antrim are welcoming me
I’d be where the people are simple and kind
Among them the one who’s been aye in my mind
I’d pray that the world would in peace let me be
Where the green glens of Antrim are heaven to me


Congrats to Watergrasshill, Erins Own and Killeagh/Itas on winning Feile Silverware.

 Club Executive Meeting.

There was a great post-Feile Buzz at the Club Executive meeting on Monday night with a nearly full attendance. Secretary and Treasurers report were dealt with. Fixtures are getting very plentiful again now after a slight lull. We have JH Divs 2 and 3 and SHL and MH games all coming up. A Clean Up Night for pitches and buildings was fixed for tonight Thursday June 13th at 7.30 so if you can bring a brush, a shovel, wheelbarrow or strimmer please come along for an hour.

Junior Hurling.

We play our first game in the East Cork Junior Hurling League, Division 2 on this coming Saturday night June 15th when Cobh are visitors. On next Thursday night June 20th we play Midleton in Pynes at 8pm in Division 3 Hurling.

Senior Hurling.

We are at home to Newtownshandrum in the Division 1 of the County Hurling League in the Main Pitch on Thursday June 20th at 8pm. The following Monday night June 24th we have another home game v Ballyhea.

Minor Hurling

Our Rebel Og Co MHC game against valley Rovers is fixed for Wednesday July 10th. We have a Minor  League game v Blackrock (away) on Sunday June 23rd at noon.
UNDER 10 Hurling.

Over the last 2 weekends our Under 10 boys participated in the annual Ballyduff Under10 tournament. Teams from all over Cork, Tipperary & Waterford attend this very well run tournament every year and for this particular group it gave us a good barometer on where we stand as a panel.
This is an 11 a side tournament which again was new to us so plenty of learning for players, mentors and parents!!! We really were testing ourselves against clubs of varying strengths....some with huge playing numbers and some with the bare 15.
Our first game in Division 2 was against Holycross-Ballycahill from Tipperary. We started this game very slowly and struggled to get to terms with the playing format- losing 5-1 to 2-2. Our second game was again against a Tipp team, St. Mary’s of Clonmel. Again another strong team but our boys really got to grips with the game and ran out 3-1 to 0-1 winners. Our final game was against Ballygunner of Waterford City. Winning well on a score line of 7-7 to 0-0. The scoring difference of this game eventually saw us go through to the second weekend.
On our second Saturday trip we started poorly again against a very good Castlelyons side and lost by 3-4 to 2-3. This put us into the semi final of the plate against Division 1 opposition. This week it was the turn of Ballygunners 1st team. A great battle couldn’t be separated at full time and 2 x 5 minute periods of extra time was played with again no separation. Eventually after another 5 we went through by a goal...a great battling team performance.
The final was against Abbeyside of Dungarvan who again had come from Division A of the tournament. Teams were level at half time but Abbeyside got the better of us in the second half and won by a goal. The 35 minutes of the semi final had told in that second half.. Overall the tournament was a great experience for our boys. We have 28 on our panel so some of our boys were unable to attend due to holidays, communions etc but as a group we’re certainly going the right way. We’ve a great crew coming through with a good mix of battlers and skilful !! Plenty of fun times ahead for our parents and supporters....Many thanks to Ballyduff for a great couple of days.

CAR BOOT SALE..

The Parish Development Committee are holding a car Boot Sale on this coming Saturday, yes Saturday June 15th so all help would be appreciated.

FIXTURES..

Thursday June 13th Clean Up Night 7.30pm

Sat June 15th Div 2 JHL V Cobh, home

Wed June 19th u 15HL V Blackrock

Thurs June 20th Div 3 JHL V Midleton Pynes Field, 8pm.

                           Co HL Div 1 v Newtownshandrum, home ,8pm.

Sunday June 23rd Co Minor HL V Blackrock, away,12 noon.

CLUB LOTTO.

The Numbers Drawn on June 4th were 8, 9, 18, 22 and there was no winner
€30 each to Oliver Rath, James Finn, Aidan O'Mahony, Kate O'Connell and Michelle O'Connor. The Jackpot for Tuesday June 11th was €20,000.

Tickets for the Weekly Lotto cost just €2 each and can be purchased from Club members and in local business outlets. Tickets can also be purchased online at locallotto.ie

We are very grateful to each and everyone who regularly supports the Weekly Lotto as the funds raised are vital for the day to day running of the Club. An Annual Lotto Ticket can also be purchased for €90.

EXAMS. The Junior and Leaving Cert Exams are in full swing so we wish all those sitting for these Tests all the very best and hope all goes well over the next week or so.

SYMPATHY; We extend our deepest sympathy to the Roche family of Ballynanelagh on the death of Martin Roche (Senior) of Carigeen, Doneraile.

 

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres

                                                                   Fermoy Print & Design

                                                                   Veolia.


 




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